The land at Colinhill Farm, Strathaven, has been successfully promoted by Wallace for 200 homes, through the South Lanarkshire Local Development Plan review process. The site is now allocated in the adopted local development plan and has planning permission. The site had been openly marketed to a number of house builders and Stewart Milne & Robertson Homes have now purchased the site and are currently building homes.

Proposal & Promotion

Prior to Wallace becoming involved, the land had been unsuccessfully promoted by a major house builder through previous development plan reviews.

Wallace entered into a contract with the land owners in 2012 to promote their land for development. Through extensive discussions with the council and Wallace having instructed and funded a full team of professional consultants (including a public communications strategist), the site became a preferred residential allocation. Through the comprehensive representations, Wallace instructed the site continue as a preferred housing site throughout the various stages of the local development plan review process. Following the examination into the plan by the Directorate for Planning and Environmental Appeals, the plan was adopted, and the site was taken forward as a housing allocation. Wallace then worked with the council to agree a detailed development framework document for the site that set out the principles for the planning permission.

Sale Process

After presenting to the land owners a detailed sale strategy, Wallace took the site to the open market for sale and a number of offers were received. Wallace, in consultation with the land owner, selected a preferred bidder and entered into a conditional contract to sell the site to two house builders each taking 50% of the site. The site has now gained a planning permission and the unconditional purchase achieved.

From the land owner’s perspective, the right planning strategy was implemented by Wallace and planning consent was achieved in under two years. The site was then sold for maximum value due to the right marketing strategy being employed by Wallace.